Fastener for leggings, spats, and the like



y 1937- G. MANOLIS i=:r AL 2,087,110

FASTENER FQR LEGGINGS, SPATS, AND THE LIKE riled Sept. 2, 1935 u iizae/ifi G EMANOLIS Patented July 1'3, l9 37 Pulsar.Tomes H ,aosum FASTENERIFOR LEGGINGS, srA'rs'. AND THE V k, 7 .1 I

George Manolis and Eustitheos Manolis,

I Chicago, Ill. I

Application SeptemberZ, 1936, Serial No.

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to leg and foot coverings such as leggings, puttees, gaiters, and like articles of apparel. More particularly the improvements 1 pertain to coverings of this character that are 5 slitted vertically along one side and provided with closure means for the slit in the form of the well-known separable slide fastener or hookless fastener.

In the structure which we have invented the covering is adapted to be opened throughout its length from top to bottom by providing completely separable margins defining the slit, and there is an instep strap extending under the wearers foot from one lower edge adjacent the slit to the opposite integral or unslitted portion of the covering. This strap is provided with one member of a latching device that interlocks with its companion member carried by the slide of the hookless fastener. Further, the strap is arranged so that it is constantly in place on account of its ends being anchored to opposite sides of the covering, and even though the latching device may accidentally become separated the strap will remain definitely in its required position.

Numerous objects and advantages are attained by the improvements disclosed herein, among which may be mentioned that the device is novel in construction; it is dependable in use; it is easy to manipulate; it is made of sturdy parts so that it will withstand hard usage; it is neat and attractive in appearance; and it is capable of being manufactured for a reasonable price. v

All-of the foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation of our invention is understood from the following description. We prefer to accomplish these numerous objects and to practice our invention in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claim. Reference is made to the accompanying drawing thatforms a part of this specification, and which shows a typical or preferred embodiment of our improved foot or leg covering.

In the drawing: I Figure 1 is a side elevation of an over-gaiter or spat showing our improvements applied thereto, the parts being in closed and latched positions.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the parts in openedpositions.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lower portion of the structure as shown in Figure 1 with the latch device opened.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 3, the view being fragmentary.

Referring to the drawing Srepresents the body of a leg or foot covering such as a legging, puttee, overgaiter or the like article, and 6 and l repreo sent the margins of the longitudinal slit or opening that preferably extends from top to bottom of the covering so that the said margins are completely separable for convenience 'and ease of ap- 10 plication and removal. The slit or opening is preferably upon the side portion of the covering and its lower end terminates at or adjacent the location of the instep strap 8 that extends transversely under thewearers foot slightly in front of the heel. The strap 8 is anchored at its opposite ends to the material of which the covering is made, and the end of the strap nearest the slit or'opening is anchored to the lower edge of the covering at either of the margins B or I which define the slit or opening.

The margins 6 and l are provided with the wellknown fastening devices inthe form of two series of interlocking jaw members 9 and I0 which are brought into engagement with each other by a means of a slide I I that is provided with a tab or finger gripping piece l2 for moving it in desired directions. At its upper end the series of interlocking members 9 is provided with a smooth guide l3 with which the slide H is engaged when it is moved to the upper limit of its movement thus permitting the margin 6 to be disconnected from the slide by withdrawing the guide l3 downwardly out of the slide. This permits complete separation of the margins of the covering as shown in Figure 2 for convenience and ease in inserting or removing the wearers foot from the covering. i

In order to secure the slide against accidental movement when it has been moved down to the lower end of the margins of the covering, we have provided the finger grip [2 with the socket member M of the glove fastener type and the cooperating headed stud member l5 of this fastener is secured to the adjacent end portion of the instep strap 8. As will be seen in the drawing, an edge ofthe strap preferably aligns with the corresponding edge of the adjacent margin of the covering and said strap edge is provided with an integral lateral portion l6 that extends across the lower end of the slit, so that an imaginary line intersecting the interlocked jaw members 9 and ill will intersect this lateral portion it of the strap. The stud l5 of the latch is secured to the central portion of this lateral element l6 of ,the

strap which disposes said stud in proper position to receive the socket carried by the slide tab. This arrangement presents a very neat appearance and if desiredthe exterior or exposed face of the stocket member I4 may be ornamented to add to the attractiveness of the slide.

We have shown the instep strap with one end secured to the forward sideof the slit or opening,

defined by the margins B and I, but it will be understood this is merely optional, as it is possible to make the attachment to the rear side of the slit or opening. Such a change merely requires the initial insertion of the wearer's heel instead of the toe of the shoe or foot. Other modifications or refinements of the structure herein disclosed may readily be made without departure 'from the principles of our invention as expressed in the appended claim.

What we claim is:

A foot-covering and the like comprising a body for embracing the wearer's ankle and slitted at one side, disengaging slide-fastener means adapted for closing the slit and having a loose fingergrip for operating the same, an instep-strap hav ing one end secured to the lower edge of the body alongside the slit, a free ear projecting lateral from the strap-end across the line defined by the 'slit, and separable latch members mounted respectively on said finger-grip and said strap-ear adapted to prevent-movement of the slide-fastener. p i v a GEORGE MANOLIS.

EUSTITHEOS MANOLIS. 

